Best astrophotography lens for Nikon D750?

Helpful thread 👍

Hmm, I’ve had a different experience… I wouldn’t chase the f/1.4 stuff first. It’s awesome on paper, but you end up stopping down anyway, and you just paid for glass you’re not really using.

- I’ve been super satisfied with Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX (Nikon F Mount) even on FX. Yeah it’s “DX”, but if you shoot it around 15–16mm it basically covers full-frame and the corners behave way better than most kit zooms. Used is like $300–$450.
- If you want true FX wide, Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC (Nikon F Mount) used ~$350–$550, and it cleans up nicely at f/2.
- Technique: manual focus + 10x live view, and try 15–20s at 14–16mm. Star stretch drops a lot.

Lesson learned: cheaper lens + correct framing beat “fastest lens” for me. gl!

For your situation, I’d suggest going wider + a lens that behaves in the corners. I’ve fought the exact “wingy” stars on full-frame… same mood lol. The best bang-for-buck I’ve used is the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC (Nikon F Mount) — it’s manual, but for astro that’s fine, and stopped to f/3.2–f/4 it gets waaay cleaner corners than most kit zooms.

If you want something a bit more “premium” used, the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art (Nikon F Mount) is honestly amazing, but it might push the top of your budget. Focal length-wise, 14–20mm is the sweet spot on a D750 for Milky Way landscapes. I usually shoot like 15–20s at f/2.8–f/3.5 ISO 3200 and call it a night. What’s your darkest sky site like??

Hey, i feel u — full-frame corners can be brutal. For your budget I’d look at Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Nikon F Mount) or Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Nikon F Mount). The Sigma’s fast but you’ll STILL wanna stop to f/2–2.8 for coma. The Tamron is heavier, but edges are honestly better than expected at 15mm f/2.8. Also, keep stars <20s at 20mm-ish, right?

Seconding what folks said about corners/coma being the real enemy on full-frame. If you wanna stay under $900 used and keep it reliable, I’d look at 3 options:

A) Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art (Nikon F Mount) — pricey used but it’s legit wide + faster than f/2.8. Still, you’ll prob shoot f/2–2.8 anyway.

B) Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX (Nikon F Mount) — underrated IMO. Pretty decent corners stopped down a touch, and usually cheaper than the Tamron.

C) Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye (Nikon F Mount) — hear me out lol… defishing in post can work, and it’s often sharp.

Also, double-check ur corners aren’t from slight focus drift or the 500-rule being too generous at 24mm. gl!

Bookmarked, thanks!

Regarding what #6 said about "Bookmarked, thanks!" - i totally agree, this is definitely a thread worth saving. The d750 is still a total legend for astro work even after all these years. Honestly, ive been shooting with mine for a long time and while that sensor is amazing, it really shows every tiny flaw in the glass once you start pushing those 20-second exposures. In my experience, you usually have to pick your poison between having a super fast aperture and having actually sharp corners. Getting both is the dream but it usually ends up being a heavy kit to lug around. Ive tried many setups over the years and sometimes the technically better lens stays home because it weighs as much as a brick. Quick question tho... are you planning on sticking with the basic tripod for the foreseeable future or is a star tracker on your wishlist? That really changes if you need to prioritize that f/1.4 speed or if you can get away with a slower, sharper lens. Also, how wide do you actually wanna go? Like, are you chasing full milky way arches or just general night landscapes?

This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖